WWNLive in China: Night 3 Review

This 3rd show on the WWNLive Tour of China is a clash
between former stable mates, as Johnny Gargano (in the opening match for the 2nd
show in a row) taking on Chuck Taylor. Obviously these two have a lot of
history together, both as partners and heated rivals. These two put on a really
good opening match, as you would expect. When you get guys like Gargano &
Taylor together in a match, it’s almost impossible for it to not be
entertaining. Gargano would end up getting the win here, as he looks toward
Night 4, where he looks to win both the Open The Freedom Gate Title and the Citic
Guoan Cup.

Jody Kristofferson is in action once again, as he’s taking on
Biff Busick. This was very similar to the match Kristofferson had with Timothy
Thatcher on Night 1. They brawled around a bit (actually had a pretty decent
brawl), but this time, Busick got the win via count out. Again, the point of
this is that they’re trying to establish that things like count outs and DQ’s
are possible. Much like on Night 1, Kristofferson chases away the referee,
while Earl Cooter got beat up by Biff Busick.

Here, we have the first (and only) women’s tag team match of the
tour, as Allysin Kay & Su Yung team up as Valkyrie (their SHINE stable) to
take on Ivelisse & Mia Yim, who are facing off for the SHINE Title on Night
4. A pretty solid tag team match. Not the best women’s match on the tour up to
this point, but far from the worst. Towards the ends of the match,
miscommunication occurred on both sides, but it would affect Ivelisse & Mia
Yim the most, as Allysin Kay & Su Yung would get the win. Those
miscommunications would help to set up the two women’s matches on Night 4
(Allysin Kay vs. Su Yung & Ivelisse vs. Mia Yim for the SHINE Title).
Ivelisse & Mia Yim argued after the match.

For the firs time on this tour, The Premiere Athlete Brand is
split up into singles matches. First up is Caleb Konley, who is taking on
Timothy Thatcher. In an interesting note, Su Yung is out with Trent Baretta in
Konley’s corner, as she wearing a mix of her wrestling gear, and the business
attire she usually wears when she’s at ringside during P.A.B. matches (guess
she didn’t have time to change). As far as the match goes, it was good match.
It was a perfectly acceptable mid-card match. Konley would end up getting the
win here (I believe with help from the P.A.B.)

These two teams both unsuccessfully challenged for the Open The
United Gate Titles on Nights 1 & 2. They’re both getting another shot in a
Three-Way Match on Night 4, but before that, they’re facing off here on Night
3. This was a solid tag team match. I have to say that it’s definitely a step
up from some of the matches these teams have had in Evolve itself (away from
storylines). The Colony would get the win, but then they would be attacked by
The Bravado Brothers after the match.

6.) Open The Freedom Gate Title – Ricochet vs. AR Fox: ****

The first of two title matches of the night sees Ricochet facing
off against AR Fox, with the former’s Open The Freedom Gate Title on the line.
This was a pretty great match. I know AR Fox had started to fall out of favor
with most people (in terms of his Evolve & PWG work around this time), but
when he’s in there with other high flyers, he tends to produce great matches,
as was the case here. These two also have a long history, and they added on
that with this outing. Eventually, Ricochet would get the win, retaining his
Open The Freedom Gate Title, and setting up a showing down with Johnny Gargano
in the Main Event of Night 4.

The Main Event sees the FIP World Heavyweight Title up for
graps, as Trent Baretta defends against Rich Swann. These two have always had
great matches with each other, and this was no exception. A really entertaining
match from these two. Caleb Konley & Su Yung got involved early, but were
ejected. They tried to interfere later on, but it didn’t pay off. In the end,
Rich Swann would overcome the odds, and defeated Trent Baretta to win the FIP
World Heavyweight Title!!

Following his celebratings, Swann would pose for pictures with
the other singles title holds, Open The Freedom Gate Champion Ricochet, &
SHINE Champion Ivelisse, to close the show.

Overall:
8.0/10

Another solid show from WWNLive on this tour of China. I have to
say that I think this was the best show of the tour up to this point. You have
two great titles match on top (Baretta vs. Swann & Ricochet vs. AR Fox),
while you also had a very good opening match with Johnny Gargano vs. Chuck
Taylor. The rest of the undercard was pretty solid, with nothing really bad to
speak up. Now the WWNLive crew gears up for the final show of the tour in
Beijing!